How Much Cake Board Are You Suppose To See?

I'm just wondering if there is a standard for this. I have seen cakes where you can see 1-2 inches around, and others that you can't hardly see the board at all. Also, do you cc'ers make your own boards or do you order them? I'm still starting out and trying to be cost efficient?Canadian bakers: where do you ordered your supplies from? Trying not to order too much from the states cause of the duty.TIA

I think that it's personal preference, but I'll want to see what other say!

a lot of times I use a board that is just a couple inches bigger than the base cake, but sometimes I use a large one - it depends on the style of the cake and whether it's a style element in the cake or if I want to minimize it.

I assemble my own drums, I buy 3 cake circles, tape them together and wrap them in foil. I also use foam core wrapped in foil.(or in one case, I used a piece of plywood, wrapped, for structural reasons )

oh, I have also used foam core with a piece of pretty paper on top, then wrapped in cellophane (or clear shelfpaper?) e.g. my flowerpot cake.

Sometimes depending on the cake, i suggest to the client that the *theme* of the cake can be carried down onto the board - so in that case i use larger boards so as to decorate the board as per the cake.

I perfer to do this actually as you don't get the *stop... end of cake* look at the bottom.

But it really is a personnel choice - of what the client and you both like and agree too.Also - if candles are to be added to the board - it doesn't look so cluttered.

When it comes to decorating - i don't think thre are any *hard and fast* rules - otherwise every cake and board would look the same.

No, i don't make my own boards - i buy mine (wooden).Then when i get home i turn the boards over and glue little clear plastic feet onto the board - makes it easier to get your fingers underneath for lifting.